4. The Steam Engine - 1698-1801

The first practical patent for an atmospheric pressure steam engine was filed by Thomas Savery in 1698.

Over the next one hundred years or so visionaries like Thomas Newcomen, James Watt and finally Richard Trevithick would refine the design to produce steam engines small enough for uses in things like locomotives.

19. The World Wide Web, the First Website, and the First Web Browser - 1989

Tim Berners-Lee had a dream, one that came to fruition in the latter half of the 1980's.

As an independent contractor for CERN in 1980, he developed a project using the concept of hypertext to facilitate sharing and updating information among researchers. He built ENQUIRE, a prototype system, to showcase his information web project.

In 1989, after lending his talents to a private company, Berners-Lee saw an opportunity to join hypertext with the internet as CERN became the place to be.

Berners-Lee wrote his proposal in March 1989 and, in 1990, redistributed it.

His ENQUIRE system provided the basis to create the World Wide Web, for which he also designed and built the first Web browser.

28. The Very First Automatic Kettle - 1955

The world's first automatic kettle was developed by the 1950's startup Russel Hobbs in 1955.

There, now iconic, Stainless Steel K1 featured a groundbreaking thermostat controlled automatic electrical cutoff system that is now taken for granted by caffeine and instant noodle lovers the world over.

29. The modern clockwork radio - 1991

Although hand crank generator radios were not novel in 1991 they were limited to military and emergency organizations.

Modern clockwork radios were, however, designed and patented by Trevor Bayliss in 1991.

His idea was to supply them to areas who lacked access to electricity or batteries.

41. The Hydrogen Cell - 1838

Welsh physicist and barrister, William Grove, published a letter n the December edition of the London and Edinburgh Philosophical Magazine and Journal of Science about his so-called Hydrogen Cell in 1838.

In his piece, he described a crude fuel cell that combined sheet iron, copper and porcelain plates and a solution of sulfate of copper and dilute acid.

Grove would later sketch his invention which is very similar to today's phosphoric acid fuel cells.

So there you go, 45 of the greatest British inventions of all time. With such a long history of invention, we have not included everything they've given to the world. Feel free to add your suggestions in the comments below.

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